If my 4 year old is travelling in the front(in a front facing car seat) do I deactivate the air bags or not?

littleangelfire81

Yes, it should be deactivated. But that doesn't make it ok. He belongs in the back seat, it is infinitely safer in the backseat. Just look at your car seat instructions, it is very specific about not using a car seat in front of an airbag. Some states even have laws requiring children 4 years and younger to be in the back seat. Its nice to have your child next to you while you're driving, but its not at all worth the risk it poses to him. How bad would your husband feel if your child is killed b/c he wanted to be 'cool dad' and let your son ride up front with him? Children 12 and under belong in the back seat. Always.

kerrberr95

You should ALWAYS have your child in the back seat of the car. If you were in an accident with your 4 yr old in the front seat and the air bag went off, even with your child in the car seat, it can kill him. There are even warnings in your car about not having children in the front seat with an airbag because of serious injury or death. I wouldn't deactivate the airbag, if it can even be done, just put your child in the back seat. It's much safer anyway!

oklatom

Please please please eliminate the "if" and do not EVER put your child in the front seat. The only exception would be if you have a pickup with no back seat, and in that case, yes, deactivate the air bags.

cartmanswork

yes i would

rowdy

You don't say how big he is, but generally I'd say (given that he's facing forwards) that you should leave them activated.

Or would you rather he hit the dash in an accident?

Don't forget the only issue is that an air-bag going off would injure his neck, and that's only if he's in a rear-facing seat, because his head would be close to the air-bag.

emt_me911

Your child should not be in the front seat anyway...airbag or not.

I suggest you contact your local DMV to find out what the laws regarding this are. In many states, children under a certain age/height/weight need to be in the back seat ONLY.

EMT

Mikey

Read the instructions on your car seat and car: this child should not be in the front seat. And especially not backwards - that is just for infants.

nessie

No need to deactivate the air-bag.
Check out "The official DSA guide to driving" page 28 and 29.
Quote: "Never fit a (Rear Facing) child seat in a seat protected by an air bag."
If your 4 year old child is under 1.5 meters in height an appropriate child restraint must be worn if available. If not, an adult seat belt must be worn.

Definitely. My van has warnings on the visors...children 12 and under should be in the back because airbags can kill them.

knox_2004

Yes, your not supposed to have a child in the front, but if you do your supposed to deactivate the airbag, that's what the option is for.

I have the same problem in my regular cab pickup, but i don't have my nephews with me much :p

Salli B

Does this car have rear seats?

The fact is it is SAFEST for a child to ride in the rear seat through age 12.

In some states however, it is legal for younger children to be in the front seat PROVIDED the airbags are turned off. Airbags could hit a child with enough force to kill them.

What state do you live in so we can tell you exactly what the laws are in your state.

Python

the Highway code states (UK)
The Highway Code 89-102: Rules for drivers and motorcyclists
101
A rear-facing baby seat MUST NOT be fitted into a seat protected by an active frontal airbag, as in a crash it can cause serious injury or death to the child.

[Laws RTA 1988 sects 14 & 15, MV(WSB)R, MV(WSBCFS)R & MV(WSB)(A)R]

so Yes if you are using a front facing chair then de activate the Airbag (if possible)

Neal

Most manufactures recommend turning off the airbag if the person (notice it doesn't say child because some adults don't meet the criteria) in the front seat is not 4 foot 9 inches tall and weighs 100 pounds.

Some newer cars with generation 2 airbags will not deploy the airbag or deploys it at lower speed if there's not 125 pounds in the front seat. (noticed the key switch to turn off airbag missing?)

jenny84

I would never put a child in the front seat anyway. Why don't you just use the back seats?

jeremy t

Yes you should deactivate the airbag, but I think its against the law to have a four year old in the front

choperty

YES YES YES - you must deactivate the air bag.

An air bag activation onto a child seat could kill the child.

The police will give you free advice with pleasure.

compyshop

If the child is using a forward facing child seat, then yes, I would deactivate the airbag.. if this is not possible on your car, then the child must not sit in the front.. full stop.

It will say in your handbook the correct usage of child seats in your vehicle.

kiki68

the question should not arise because 4 year olds should never be in the front seat. if ur car has only 2 seats sell it fast! the force of an air bag could kill ur child

NO! Only deactivate the airbags for rear-facing baby-seats. If someone ploughs into you from behind at high speed the airbag will save his life. Sure, it might break his nose, but that really wont matter if he is still alive.

Put the front seat as far back as it will go.

jenny flower

I thought it was illegal for 4 years olds to sit in the front.

Mac C

Place the Child at the back when possible, and along with another care giver. Otherwise, if the Child is seating in front.

Need a Child Seat, thus that the child is able to be positioned on the Car seat at the optimum height range for the safety feature to be effective.

If you really want to save the Money from buying a Car seat, Car pool or use Public Transport, save even more money.

emilythe_1

yes that would be a good idea, a air bag can do more damage to a 4 year old that it can good

steven h

yes deactivate, you can break their neck or nose with an airbag

FM g

whats wrong with you of course it will deactivate and if i were you i will never put a child in front seat because is not safe and if the airbag deploy it will cause a serious injury or death to you child and if you get pull over you definitely get a big ticket placing a 4 years child in the front. so for your child safety always put he/she on the back seat is safer there. the DMV law said no child of under the age off 12 should ride in the front so read you car manual and you car sun visor they have the detail there. be safe and so your 4 year child too

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